Pubdate: Sun, 27 Dec 2009
Source: Delaware County Daily Times (PA)
Copyright: 2009 The Daily Times
Contact:  http://www.delcotimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1284
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n1101/a06.html
Author: Robert Sharpe

LET DOCTORS DECIDE ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

To the Times:

While there have been studies showing that marijuana can shrink
cancerous tumors, medical marijuana is essentially a palliative drug.

If a doctor recommends marijuana to a cancer patient undergoing
chemotherapy and it helps them feel better, then it's working. In the
end, medical marijuana is a quality of life issue best left to
patients and their doctors.

Drug warriors waging war on non-corporate drugs contend that organic
marijuana is not an effective health intervention.

Their prescribed intervention for medical marijuana patients is
handcuffs, jail cells and criminal records. This heavy-handed approach
suggests that drug warriors should not be dictating health care decisions.

It's long past time to let doctors decide what is right for their
patients; sick patients should not be jailed for daring to seek relief
from medical marijuana.

ROBERT SHARPE, MPA

Policy Analyst for Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake